Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Urnex Professional products.

Why is machine maintenance important?

Coffee is by nature a very oily substance. Over time, coffee oils accumulate inside of your machine to form a rancid residue. This residue is responsible for the acrid smell you may recognize coming from a poorly maintained machine. Unfortunately, this residue causes more than just bad odor. If allowed to develop, residue inside of your machine will eventually clog its filters and tubes and cause it to malfunction. Well before your machine clogs or you even notice the signs of neglect, the stale residue lining the inside of your machine will begin to affect the taste of the fresh coffee you prepare.

Why do I need to clean and descale?

Cleaning is the process of removing the coffee oils that will affect the taste that you want from your carefully selected coffee beans. Descaling is the process of removing the mineral build-up from the heating elements in the machine. Regular descaling will help extend the life of the machine and maintain consistent temperature.

How often should I clean my commercial brewer?

Commercial brewers should be cleaned each night after service. This will prevent the accumulation of stale coffee oils which can impact the taste of the next day's brews. Weekly, take off removable parts such as site glasses, etc. and give these a thorough cleaning as well. Finally, always remember to wipe down the area around the spray head (above the brew basket), as splashed- back coffee can accumulate there as well.

How often should I clean my commercial espresso machine?

Commercial espresso machines should be cleaned by back flushing with espresso machine detergent each night. Nightly back flushing will prevent the accumulation of stale coffee oils in the group heads, shower screens and filter baskets of your espresso machine. Keeping these parts clean is essential to maintaining great tasting coffee over time. Weekly, you should soak portafilters and baskets in a solution of espresso machine detergent and water.

What is Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner, who developed it and why?

Grindz is the first ever cleaner for coffee grinders. The product is a proprietary formula of grains, cereals, and pharmaceutical grade binders in a coffee bean shaped tablet. In pursuit of ways to help customers serve the best tasting coffee, we have dedicated ourselves to helping eliminate the chance of coffee oil residue contaminating future brews. Cleaning a grinder has always been a challenge since water cannot be used on the burrs or around electric motors.

The process of opening a grinder can also be very intimidating due to the small parts and precision involved in positioning burrs. The product was developed by the technical team at Urnex Brands; LLC and was inspired by a meeting between the owners of Urnex® and Mahlkönig when the challenges of grinder care and cleaning were discussed.

How was Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner tested?

Throughout the development process, the team at Urnex® worked very closely with the technical staff at Mahlkönig in Hamburg, Germany. Every version was evaluated for safety and effectiveness on a broad range of grinders.

How often should I clean my Grinder?

Grinders used for espresso coffee should be cleaned with one capful of Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner once a week. Larger Shop Grinders used for Drip Coffee should be cleaned with two capfuls of Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner once a month. The reason for the difference in dosage has to do with the different size of the grinders in question. The reason for the increased frequency of Espresso Grinder cleaning is because espresso beans tend to be darker and more oily, and therefore lead to increased residue deposits on the Burrs of the Grinder.

Why is Grindz™ more effective than rice for my grinder?

In the past, many people have cleaned grinders with rice. However, rice carries the risk of locking up the motor of a grinder as it passes through and is turned into a fine powder. The hardness and shape of Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner prevents this from happening. Using rice to clean your grinder also leaves a starchy residue on the inner mechanics of a grinder that is difficult to remove and leads to greater and more frequent build up.

Can I use Grindz™ on a fully automatic espresso machine?

While Grindz™ will effectively clean the burrs on most any coffee grinder; we do not recommend use of the product on fully automatic espresso machines without specific instructions from your machine's manufacturer. The reason we urge caution is that the brew chamber of each fully automatic espresso machine is different. Although Grindz™ is fully edible and food safe, the composition of the product gives it a tendency to expand when put in contact with large volumes of water. Therefore, when using Grindz™ on fully automatic machines, it is important to not accidentally "brew" a shot of Grindz™, as this could clog your machine. In order to avoid this, ask your manufacturer how to set your machine for grinder cleaning. If you have already tried and succeeded using Grindz™ on your machine, then you've figured it out!

No. There are only food safe and edible ingredients in this product. As a result, the product presents no risk if the residue is consumed, and it will be flavor neutral to your coffee.

How do I use Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner?

Simply take the recommended dose (1 cap-full for espresso grinders and 2 caps-full for shop grinders) and drop it into an empty grinder hopper. Adjust machine setting to medium, and operate as if grinding coffee beans. Once complete, we recommend passing twice as much coffee through to purge any residue.

What happens if I use a setting other than medium with Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner?

This is not a problem at all. In fact, you may want to experiment with Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner and different settings on your machine. We found that medium setting delivered the optimal cleaning effect. However, this may vary with your equipment and the amount of coffee residue.

Will Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner remove flavored coffee oil?

Yes. We have found the product to be effective at eliminating the scent of flavored coffee. It is particularly effective in removing the odor of flavored coffee when it has accidentally been passed through the dedicated "non-flavored" grinder.

Why should I use Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner regularly?

Just as any coffee machine should be cleaned regularly, a grinder should be cleaned in the same manner to achieve the optimum grinding quality. Grindz™ is an easy way to remove the coffee residue and oils deposited on grinder burrs. The regular use of Grindz™ lengthens the time period between one servicing and the next, and also reduces the need to disassemble the grinder to clean it. Thus, making maintenance less costly, and more efficient.

When I use Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner, I am left with a lot of white dusty particles in my doser. How do I get this out?

The dust created by using Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner is harmless and flavor neutral. However, it should be passed through your doser and brushed out. If you have trouble getting it all out, we recommend using a vacuum to clean out the tiny areas.

How should Grindz™ Grinder Cleaner be stored?

It is best to keep in a cool dry place with the lid on.

Is Grindz™ a concern for those with gluten allergies?

Grindz™ is gluten free and organic; therefore, there is no concern for those with gluten allergies.

What ingredients are used in your products? Are SDS pages available?

Our ingredients and formulas are confidential. However, our SDS pages are available on every product page and the top right corner of every page. These SDS sheets disclose all required names and technical data regarding the ingredients used in our products. All of our formulas are considered non-toxic.

Are Urnex® products hazardous?

All Urnex® Brand Products are non-toxic. In addition, many of our products contain food-safe dyes to help ensure proper rinsing.

What is the shelf life of Urnex Products?

All formulas have been tested and approved for a 24 month (2 year) shelf life under room temperature conditions. On ocassion, powder products stored in hot and humid warehouses maryexperience clumping. If this occurs there is no effect on the product's performance, but the power must be agitated to return to its original form.

What are the different types of tablets offered by Urnex?

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